This bright yellow motorcycle you see here is not just special to me because it’s the first vehicle I bought with my own money, but also because it arrived right on time to count as a birthday gift as I completed 30 revolutions around the sun. Frankly, I have always been a car guy, but if there’s one motorcycle I’ve lusted for since childhood, it’s the Triumph Speed Twin. Nothing is more quintessentially motorcycle to me than one with a classic teardrop tank, round headlamps and spoked wheels.
The fact that these Bajaj-made Triumph 400s carry the same design ethos as the larger bikes so beautifully has been very endearing to me. I have heard a few people say that these 400s have made Triumph more mainstream than necessary, but honestly, it feels quite special that I could bring home a Triumph within a reasonable budget and yet experience the quality and heritage that come along with this brand.
Initially, I had my eyes set on the Scrambler X, but when I saw the first images of the XC with spoked wheels, I just knew this was the one I had to get. I booked one without even seeing it in the metal, so I was lucky to get one allotted right from the very first batch that arrived in Mumbai. The bright paintwork and its relative rarity at that point meant it didn’t fail to attract eyeballs, validated no less by a few thumbs up and nods of approval from fellow bikers on the road.
Within the first 1,000km, I had already used it extensively in the city (mostly for leisurely night rides), taken it on a 300km-long highway stint, and also managed to find a few mild trails to test its off-road abilities. Since it’s my only bike at the moment, I need it to be an all-rounder. And my first impressions are that it’s a great city bike and a welcoming off-roader for someone who’s new to off-road riding, but it isn’t a great highway tourer. I will be delving into the details of these scenarios in future reports, but for now, I also want to talk about the service experience.
The first periodic service – done at about 1,100km – cost me Rs 2,129. This included an oil filter change, engine oil change, and chain lubrication, along with washing and cleaning the bike. The service advisor also told me that I had already worn out about 50 percent of the front brake pads, although it did not warrant an immediate change. I wasn’t too surprised to learn this, because I had read online reports about other Scrambler and Speed owners experiencing premature front brake pad wear. A few hundred kilometres more, and I intend to upgrade these organic pads to sintered ones.
I must also make a mention of Triumph’s limited service network. A single service outlet to cater to the whole of Mumbai, including big bike owners, meant that I had to leave the bike overnight at the service centre. Not very pleasant!
Rishaad Mody
Ved Janve
Dinshaw Magol
